The United States on Friday warned Americans not to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories due to increased terrorism threats as officials in Washington expressed deep pessimism over the Middle East peace process, according to AFP.

"The US government has indications that there is a heightened threat of terrorist incidents in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza," the State Department said in a statement.

"In light of several recent terrorist bombings in Israel and continuing violence in Gaza and the West Bank, American citizens should exercise extreme caution and avoid shopping areas, malls, public buses, bus stops as well as crowded areas and demonstrations," it said.

Meanwhile, the British consul in Jerusalem announced a similar warning to Britons, "strongly" advising them against travel to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, reported Iran News Agency (IRNA).

The consul said he did "not detect that the security situation has

improved."

The potential for further violence remains high, he said, quoted by the agency as saying -- Albawaba.com